Platen-operating mechanism.



E. G. LATTA.

PLAIEN creanme MEcHANlsM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2. 1909.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

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E. G. LANA.

PLATE orslmms McHAmsM.

PPLICAI'IGN FILED SEPT. 2. l909 Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

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PLATEN OPERATING MECHANISM.

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Patented Apr. 6, 1915,

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

m11 G. LATTA, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR '10 HARVEY A. NOYER, 0F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

PLATEN-OPEBATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.'

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

Application lled September 2, 1909. Serial No. 515,941.

To all wl: om it may concern Be itknown that I, EMMIT G. Larra, a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse. in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Platen-Operating Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in platen operatingf mechanisms for typewrit ing and other, printing machines.

One object of. the invention is to produce desirable and eflicient mea-ns for rotatively Vadjusting the platen to locate any desired part of the paper thereon exactly on the printing line; and for quickly turning the platen backwardly a predetermined distance and restoring it to its former position for the purpose of facilitating the writing of bills or other work where it is desired to commence the writing on successive sheets at the same distance from the tops of the sheets.

Other objects of the invention are to construct the platen and its operating mechanism so that the platen can be substituted for'the platen in `a typewriting machine of ordinary construction without requiring changes in the carriage or the regular line spacing mechanism thereof; also to arrange the improved mechanism inside vof the `platen without projecting parts; also to make provision for releasing the line space or ratchet wheel from the platen when the latter is being turned by the improved adjusting mechanism, to thereby prevent the noise and resistance to the rotation of the platen caused by the line space detent when the ratchet wheel turns with the platen; also to utilize the line space wheel when released from the platen, as a. friction brake to prevent the platen from turning too freely; and also to improve platen operating mechanisrns in the respects hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of three sheets: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a typewriting machine platen provided with operating mechanism embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional plan thereof. Fig. 7 is a similar view showing a different position of the parts. Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 are cross sections thereof in lines 8 8, 9-9, 10-10 and 11-11, respectively, Fig. 2. Figs. 12 and 13 are broken longitudinal sectional elevations of slightly modified constructions.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

The platen may be of any suitable construction, but preferably consists of the usual hollow wooden core A, rubber covering B, and end plates C and C secured to the opposite ends of the wooden core and provided with bearing openings through which the platen4 shaft extends.

The platen shaft preferably consists of left and right-hand end sections D'and D' having telescoping inner extensions formed by tubes E Vand F secured respectively to the inner ends of the end sections D D. The outer tube E is conveniently secured to the inner end of the end section D by a bushing e and two cross pins e e?, as shown inFigs.

2, 6, 7 and 10, while the inner tube F is pref-V erably counterboredand internally screwthreaded 'at-.its vouteryend to receive the Vthreaded inner end` ofthe end section D, as

shown most clearly at f F ig; 5. Finger wheels G and AG aresecured by setscrews,V

or in anyother suitable way, to the outer ends of the shaftend sections D and D respectively.

The platen `shaft is suitably journaled on of the platen shaft` being preferably journaled in bearingsleeves I and I which are removably retained in open seats in the ends of the carriage so-as to allow the ready removal of the platen and shaft from the carriage. As the carriage forinsno part of this invention onlyv the-ends H thereof are shown in the drawings K, Figs. 2 and 9, represents an adjustable nut or stop arranged in the tele-scoping tu-` the ends H of the carragefthe end sections4 i with an adjusting shaft k which extends loosely through the shaft section D and its finger wheel G and is provided at its outer end with a knurled head for turning the shaft to adjust the stop lengthwise of the platen shaft. A sto or enlargement L at the end of the tube is adapted to strike the adjustable stop K to limit the outward movement of the shaft section D. The stop L Vshown consists of a ring secured on the tube E by a collar l which is screwed on the threaded end of the tube and is fastened bya set screw l', see'Figs. 5 and 8. Arms Z2, Fig. 2, on the stop ringextend into the slots o the tube to prevent the tube from being collapsed when tightening up the set screw l. The stop L can be formed and secured ou the tube in any other suitable way.

The right-hand end plate C of the platen is journaled directly on the shaft section D', while the other end plate C is journaled on a' sleeve M which is rigidly secured on the outer'end of the inner shaft tube F. A fixed flange m on the sleeve at the outer side of the end plate C, and a. collar N, Figs. 2 and 5, secured to the sleeve by a set screw or otherwise at the inner side of the end plate. prevent endwise movement of the sleeve and the shaft section D in the end plate. This collar N and the endV p late C are notched at one side at n fn. respectively, Figs. 2 and 3, to receive an arm or dog 11,2 which projects laterally from the stop collar l on the end of the onter'shaft tube E whereby the platen, platen'shaft and sleeve AM are caused to turn together when the dog is held in the slots n n.

O O, Figs. 6 and 7, represent springs which are arranged in theplaten and are attached'at opposite ends to the sleeve M and the shaft section D. These springs are conveniently attached to arms on the collar N at the inner end of the sleeve M and to one of the pins that fasten the tube-E to the shaft section D', and they normally hold the shaft section D inwardly with the hub of its linger Vwheel G against the adjacent bearing sleeve Iand the dog 'r' in the slots fn. n' of the collar N and platen end plate C, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. P, Figs. 2 and 11, represents screws which extend through the hub of the platen end plate C and have smooth inner ends entering opposite helical grooves in the shaft section D'. When the platen shaft is turned in either direction by means of either of the finger wheels G G', these screws P and the dog n: cause the platen to turn with the shaft, whereas if the right-hand shaft section D' is pulled outwardly the screws sliding in the helical grooves cause the platen to turn backwardly on the shaft section D anden the sleeve M as journals, the dog 'nF being'then withdrawn from the notches in the collar N and platen end plate C. The outward movement of the shaft section D' by the stop L striking the adjnstablc stop K and consequently the extent to which the platen is turned by ulling out the shaft section depends upon t .e position of the stop K, which can be adjusted by its screw shaft k to permit a greater or less rotation of the platen. By making the helical grooves of suitable length and pitch, one or more complete revolutions of the platen can be roduced b v the endwise movement of the siaft section D'. Any other suitable connection between the platen and the movable shaft sections for causing the rotation of the former by an endwise movement of the latter could be employed.

Q represents a device which is preferably employed for holding the platen shaft from turning when the shaft section D' is moved longitudinally for rotatively adjusting the platen. This device, in the construction shown, consists of a cross head on the outer end portion of the stop adjusting screw and having arms which project through slots g in the shaftsection D and hub of the finger wheel G adjacent to the outer end of the bearing sleeve I, which is serrated at g to interlock with said cross head. The cross head is normally held out of engagement with the bearing sleeve, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, by the springs O O which hold the shaft section D against the adjusting screw k and press the latter to the left. Whem however, the shaft section D is pulled out to adjust the platen rotatively the cross head Q is moved into. engagement with the serrated end of the bearing sleeve I by a small spring g2 in the outer end of the shaft section D and holds the platen shaft from turning, thereby rendering it unnecessary to hold the lefthan`d finger wheel for this purpose. A small disk g, Fig. 2, is shown in the end of the shaft section D and having arms entering the slots of the shaft section to prevent the slots from being closed and pinching the cross head in tightening up the setscrew which fastens the linger wheel G. Means of other construction could be employed for holding the platen shaft from turning when adjusting the platen by the shaft section D', and if desired, for a less expensive construction. the holding means can be omitted, as shown in Fig. 12, and the sha-ft held from turning by grasping and holding the left-hand linger wheel.

R represents a line space ratchet wheel arranged at the left-hand end of the platen and adapted to be engaged by the feed pawl and holding detent of line space mechanism of ordinary construction (not shown),'for turning the platen to feed the paper regular line space distances. This line space wheel is preferably clamped between a bevel-faced rib r on the flanged outer end of the sleeve M and a cone 1" arranged on the shaft section D and entering a conical central opening in the ratchet wheel, see Fig. 5. The

cone bears against an inwardly facing shoulder on the shaft section D so that by turning the shaft section by means of its finger wheel G to screw it into the shaft tube i the line space'wheel will be securely clamped to the sleeve M and the sleeve and platen will turn with the ratchet wheel Whereas by slightly unscrevving the shaft section D the line space Wheel is freed and the platen can be turned While the line space wheel is held stationary by its detent. A pin r2, Fig. 5, passing through the sleeve M and entering a slot in the hub of the cone r prevents the cone and line space wheel from turning with the shaft section D when that part is screwed home to secure the line space wheel to the sleeve M.

W'hen itis desired to do what is known as condensed billing, the right-hand 'finger wheel G is grasped and the shaft section D pulled outwardly, as indicated in Fig. 7. Wth the first part of this movement the cross head Q interlocks with the serrated end of the bearing sleeve I and holds the platen shaft from turning. In the continued movement of the shaft section D the dog n2 is disengaged from the platen end plate C and theooll'ar N of the sleeve M, and the helical grooves in the shaft section cause the platen tof turn backwardly on this shaft section and the sleeve M until farther movement is arrested by the stop L striking the adjustable stop K The dog ,n2 is Vtapered wmewhat to permit a slight rotation of the end plate C as the dog' moves into and outV of locking position. A bill head is then inserted from the rear'in the usual way, by dropping its leading edge between the platen and the feed rolls, and the shaft section D is pushed in to its limit, which restores the platen to its former position. If this does not bring the paper to the necessary position to commence the writing at the proper place, the screw k is turned to adjust the stop K so as to vgive the proper movement of the platen. The record sheet and carbon are then inserted, with the platen in the normal position, the finger wheel G drawn out, and a bill head is dropped into place and brought to the printing position by pushing in the finger wheel. Thereafter the platen is similarly operated for the inser-tion of each new bill'head, with the full assurance that they will all be placed exactly alike. The carriage is preferably set back for a new .line before the platen is thus turned rearwardly for the new sheet, as in thatcase the carriage is held'by the margin stop and the-adjustment can be effected with the right-hand alone without holding the carriage with the other hand. But a new sheet can be inserted with the carriagev in any part of its run, by holding the carriage against movement to the right with the lett hand. In either case but one hand is required to return the platen to the normal position. as the escapement holds the carriage from movement to the left. The line space wheel is held from turning by its detentwhen the platen is rotated by means of the shaft section D. Hence the wheel does not have to be turned in opposition to the holding force of its detent and the platen rotates with greater freedom than in other mechanisms in which the line space Wheel turns with the platen. Furthermore, the objectionable noise of the datent running over the ratchet Wheel teeth is entirely obviated. The line space mechanism is used to turn the platen for Writing successive lines just as in ordinary work.

The platen can be turned a fraction of a line space for Writing one or more characters above the line, which is sometimes necessary, by pulling the finger Wheel G out the requisite distance, the platen being returned by pushing in the finger Wheel again after the characters are Written. Preferably, however, such an adjustment of the platen is effected by holding the right-hand nger wheel G stationary and turning the other finger Wheel to unscrew the shaft section D andv release 'the line space wheel as before explained. The platen can then be turned by the right-hand linger wheel G t the exact point desired, the line space Wheel being held stationary by its detent. After the platen is returned to the former position the line space wheel is again locked to g the platen shaft by screwing in the shaft section D. When the line space wheel is released frorn the platen, as just explained, the pressure of the line space detent thereon wedges the wheel between the beveled rib of the sleeve M and the cone r andthe Wheel will then act as a friction brake to resist the rotation of the platen by the right-hand finger wheel. The line space wheel arrangedA to be thus disconnected from the platen and utilized as a. friction brake is preferable to the constructions most commonly employed, in which the line space wheel is fast on the platen and a friction brake is provided, together with means for releasing the line space detent and applying the brake when fractional line spacing is required, for the reason that after use the brake must be released and the detent restored. The pin and slot connection between the sleeve M and cone r causes the cone and sleeve to turn together with the platen and improves the braking action when the line space Wheel is released.

Fig. 12 illustrates a less expensive con-v struction than that described, in which the cross head Q and coperating serrations in the outer end of the left-hand bearing sleeve for holding the shaft from turning when drawing out the shaft section D', and also the operating spring g2 for the cross head and the disk are omitted. In this construction the nger wheel G is grasped to hold the shaft from turning when moving the shaft section D to rotate the platen. The sleeve M with its collar the dog Vn2 and the cone r are also omitted in this construction. The end plate C of the platen bears directly on the shaft section D and has the line space wheel R permanently fastened thereto. Otherwise the construction is substantially as before described.

Fig. 13 shows a very inexpensive construction in which a single-piece platen shaft Ds is employed which is capable of rotating and sliding in the platen and in the bearing sleeves I2 and I3 on the carriage. The platen is turned in the same way as before, by pulling the shaft lengthwise, to the right, and in this construction the shaft is extended far enough beyond the left-hand sleeve I1' to allow this lengthwise movement. The left-hand finger wheel G" is adjustably secured on the shaft and can be adjusted thereon to limit the backward rotation of the platen. A simple spring detent S, secured in the platen and adapted to engage in a notch in the shaft, is proded in place of the springs O O for holdin the shaft in its normal position.

'le the first lconstruction described is the most complete and desirable, it will be apparent from Figs. 12 and 13 that it can be materiali changed and at least a portion of thebene ts thereof retained.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a paper carriage anda rotatable platen, of a platen shaft, means which turn theplaten with the shaft when the shaft is turned and turn the platen about the shaft when the shaft is moved lengthwise, and means inclosed in the platen for resisting the lengthwise movement of the shaft, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a paper carriage and a rotatable platen, of a supporting shaft for the platen, connections between the platen and shaft which turn the platen about the shaft when the shaft is moved lengt-hwise in either direction, and spring means inclosed in the platen for resisting the lengthwise movement of the shaft, substantiall);v as set forth.

3. The combination with a paper carriage and a rotatable platen, of a supporting shaft for the platen consisting of sections. one of which is movable lengthwise, means oper` ated b v the lengthwise movement of said movable shaft section for turning the platen about the shaft, and a spring for resisting the outward movement of said movable shaft section, substantially as set forth.

Y 4. The combination with a paper carriage and a rotatable platen, of a supporting shaft for the platen, connections between the i5 platen and shaft which turn the platen about the shaft when the shaft is moved lengthwise in either direction, an adjustable stop for limiting the lengthwise movement of the shaft, and an adjusting handle for said stop located outside of the platen, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a paper carriage and a rotatable platen, of a supporting shaft for the platen consisting of sections, one of which is movable lengthwise, means operated bv the lengthwise movement of said movable shaft section for turning the platen forwardly and backwardly about the shaft, an adjustable stop for limiting the lengthwise movement of said movable shaft section, and a spring for holding said movable shaft section in the normal position, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a paper carriage and a rotatable platen, of a supporting shaft for the platen consisting of sections, one of which is movable lengthwise, means operated b the lengthwise movement of said movab e shaft section for turning the platen about the shaft, an adjustable stop for limiting the lengthwise movement of said movable shaft seetion, and an axial adjusting screw for said stop extending out of one end of the platen, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with a paper carriage and a rotatable platen, of a supporting shaft for the platen, means which operate to turn the platen about the shaft when the shaft is moved lengthwise, an adjustable stop located in the platen for limiting the lengthwise movement of the shaft, and an adjusting handle for saidl stop located outside of the platen, substantially as set forth.

S. The combination with a paper carriage and a rotatable plat-en, of a supporting shaft for the platen which is rotatably and lengthwise movable on the carriage and is adapted to slide in the platen, means which oscillate the platen when the shaft is moved lengthwise in opposite directions, and adjustable means located within the platen and having an external actuating device for limiting the ascillatory movement of the platen to different distances, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with a paper carriage, and a rotatable platen, of a supporting shaft for the platen, connections between the platen and shaft which turn the platen about the shaft when the shaft is moved lengthwise, a stop located inside of the platen for limiting the lengthwise movement of the shaft, and a screw extending out of the platen for adjusting said stop, subst-antially as set forth.

10. The combination with a paper carriage and a rotatable platen. of a supporting shaft for the platen, connections which operate to rotate the platen when the shaft is moved lengthwise.l and normally inactive means which are operated by the lengthwise movement of the shaft for holding the shaft from rotation when it is moved lengthwise, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination with a paper carriage, and a rotatable platen, of a supporting shaft for the platen, connections between the platen and shaft which rotate the platen when the shaft is moi-'ed lengthwise. and parts which are normally out of engagement and automatically engage to hold the shaft from rotation when it is moved lengthwise, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination with a paper carringe, and a rotatable platen, of a support.` ing shaft for the platen, connections between the platen and shaft which rotate the platen when the shaft is moved lengthwise, said shaft being removable from the carriage while in place inthe platen, and means which hold the shaft from rotation when it is `moved lengthwise and which are removable from the carriage with the shaft, substantialljr as set forth. Y,

13. The combination with a paper carriage, and a rotatable platen, of. a support ing shaft for the platen, connections between the platen and the shaft for turnin the platen when the shaftis turnedan when the shaft is moved lengthwise, and auxiliary means for locking the platen to the shaft so as to turn with thel when the parts are in their normal position,;$ub stantially as set forth.

14. The combination with a paper carriage and a rotatable platen, of a. supporting shaft for the platen, connections between one end of the platen and the shaft for turning the platen when the shaft is turned and when the shaft is moved lengthwise, and auxiliary means at the other end of the platen for locking the platen to the shaft when the parts are in their normal position, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination with a platen carriage, and a rotatable platen, of a supporting shaft for the platen consisting of telescoping sections, means for causing said shaft sections to turn together, and means for turning the platen when one of said shaft sections is moved lengthwise, substantiall;7 as set forth.

16. The combination with a paper carriage and a rotatable platen, of a supporting shaft for the platen consisting of telescoping sections. means for causing said shaft sections to turn together, and connec tions between one of said shaft sections and the platen for turning the platen when either of said shaft sections is turned and when one of said shaft sections is moved lengthwise, substantially as set forth.

17. The combination with a paper carringe, and a rotatable platen, of a supporte ing shaft for the platen consisting of telescoping sections which turn together, means for turning the platen when one of said shaft sections is moved lengthwise, and an adjustable stop for limiting the lengthwise movement of said shaft section, substantially as set forth.

18. The combination with a paper carriage and a rotatable platen, ofV a supporting shaft for the platen consisting of telescoping sections, means for turning the 4platen when one of said shaft sections is moved lengthwise, and a stop which limits the endwise movement of said shaft section and also causes said shaft sections to turn together, substantially as set forth.

19. The combination with a paper carriage, and a rotatable platen, of a supporting shaftfor the platen consisting of telescoping sect-ions, means for causing said shaft sections to turn together, means for turning the platen when one of said shaft sections is moved lengthwise, and means for holding said shaft from turning when said shaft section is moved lengthwise, substantially as set forth.

20, The combination with a paper carriage, and a rotatable platen, of a supporting shaft'for the :platen'consisting of sections having teleseoping slotted tubular portions located inside of the platen and end portions'passingthrough the ends of the platen, means which turn the platen when one,V of said shaftsectons' is moved length` wise, and an adjustable stop for said movable shaft section which is arranged in the slotted tubular portions of the shaft sections and causes the shaft sections to turn together, substantially as set forth.

Q1. The combination with a paper carriage, and a rotatable platen, of a platen shaft which normali)7 turns with the laten and consists of sections one of which is movable lengthwise, means operated by said movable shaft section for turning the platen independently of the shaft, and a line space wheel which is secured to and turns with said other shaft section, substantially as set forth.

22. The combination with a paper carriage and a rotatable platen, of a platen shaft consisting of telescoping sections which turn together and one of which is movable lengthwise, connections between said movable shaft section and the platen for rotating the platen by the lengthwise movement of said movable shaft section, and a line space wheel which is connected to said other shaft sectiomsubstantially as set forth.

The combination with a paper carriage, and a rotatable platen, of a platen shaft which normally turns with the platen, means for turning the platen independently of the shaft, two parts surrounding the shaft, a line space wheel located between said parts, and means for operating said parts to secure the line space wheel to the platen. substantially as set forth.

:24, The combination with a paper carriage, and a rotatable platen, of a platen shaft which normally turns with the platen, means for turning the platen independently of the shaft. a line space wheel surrounding said shaft, parts surrounding the shaft and bearing against opposite sides of said line space wheel, and a screw for operating said parts to grasp and hold said line space wheel, substantially as set forth.

25. The combination with a. paper carriage, and a rotatable platen, of a platen shaft which normally turns with the platen, means for turning the platen independentl of the shaft, a sleeve on said shaft on whic the platen bears, a cone surrounding the shaft and connected to turn with said sleeve, a line space wheel surrounding the shaft between said cone and sleeve, and means for movingsad cone to hold the line space wheel between the same and said sleeve, substantially as set forth.

26. The combination with a paper carriage, and a rotatable platen, of a platen shaft which normally turns with the platen, means for turning the platen independentl of the shaft, a sleeve on said shaft on whi the platen bears, means which normally oonnect said sleeve to the platen and shaft to cause the several parts to turn together, a line space wheel, and means for securing said line space wheel to and releasing it from said sleeve, substantially as set forth.

27. The combination with a paper carriage and a rotatable platen, of parts having oppositely facing conical friction faces normally rotating with the platen, a line space wheel arranged between said parts, and means for locking the line space wheel between said friction faces and unlocking said wheel to act frictionally on said faces to oppose the rotation of said parts, substantially as set forth.

28. The combination with a paper carriage and a rotatable platen, of means contained within the platen by which the platen may be rotated over a lurality of line spaces, a line space wheel adjustably connected to the platen, and adapted to be held from rotation when the platen is rotated by said means, the platen with its rotating means, and line space wheel all being connected and detachable from the carriage as a unit, substantiall as set forth.

Witness my han this 30th dav of August,

EMMIT G. LATTA. Witnesses:

Canam U. REID, G'rro A. ScmLLr.

Copies o! this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. (2.

It is hereby certified that Letters Patent No. 1,134,751, granted April 6, 1915, upon the application of Emmit G. Latte, of Syracuse, New York, for an improve ment in Platen-Operating Mechanism," were erroneously issued to Harvey A.

Moyer, as assignee of the entire interest, whereas said Letters Patent should have been issued to the um/nim', Sat'd Laim, and Harvey A. Moyer, 7'0? ny, said Moyer beingr assignee of mw-zaf 'interest only in said invention, as shown by the records of assignments in this Othee; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofliee. l

Signed and sealed this 11th day of May, A. D., 1915.

[SEAL] R. F. WHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

